NPC virtual reality experience marks 1,862 days of detention for journalist Jimmy Lai
On Jan. 31, 2026, journalist and media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai will have spent 1,862 days in detention, much of that time in solitary confinement, as he awaits sentencing after being convicted under Hong Kong’s national security law.
To mark this milestone and to draw attention to the toll that prolonged isolation takes on journalists imprisoned for their work, the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club has launched a virtual reality experience that places participants inside a solitary confinement cell and conditions faced by Lai and others like him.
At 78 years old, after years in custody and amid publicly reported health concerns, the possibility that Lai could face life imprisonment underscores the gravity of his pending sentence.
Members can hear directly about Lai’s experience from his son, Sebastien Lai, who narrates the 2.5-minute virtual reality encounter. The initiative, called “1,862 Days,” will be accessible to National Press Club members from Feb. 3 to Feb. 16, 2026, in the Eric Friedheim National Journalism Library conference room from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, has been imprisoned since December 2020. The National Press Club has been a vocal advocate on behalf of Lai, who has become emblematic of the broader crackdown on independent journalism in Hong Kong and beyond. In December 2025, he was convicted under Hong Kong’s national security law following a trial conducted without a jury, in which his publishing activity and public commentary were central to the case. He continues to await sentencing.
Press freedom advocates warn that Lai’s prolonged detention sends a chilling message to reporters everywhere: that journalism itself can be treated as a crime.
Press freedom organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about Lai’s health, access to legal counsel,and the length and conditions of his detention. International human rights experts also warn that prolonged solitary confinement may constitute cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under international law.
The virtual reality experience is intended to underscore why Jimmy Lai’s case is not an isolated one. It reflects a growing global trend of governments using detention, legal uncertaintyand psychological pressure to intimidate journalists and suppress independent reporting.
“1,862 Days” exhibit details:
What: A 2.5-minute reality experience accessible in person at the National Press Club.
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday from Feb. 3 to Feb. 16, 2026. The exhibit is self-service and available on demand.
Where: Conference room, Eric Friedheim National Journalism Library at the National Press Club, 13th Floor
What to expect: Participants should expect to use a communal Meta Quest 3S virtual reality headset to experience the exhibit. Instructions will be provided to users in the space.
Who: Members and their guests may interact with the exhibit. Guests must be accompanied by an NPC member.
This exhibit is being offered by the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club, a program of the National Press Club Journalism Institute. To support innovative press freedom initiatives at the National Press Club, please make a donation today.